Search Results for: Philippine Numismatic Antiquarian

It was a bright sunny day on November 23, 2011 when a small group of post card and stamp collectors met at the main lobby of the Manila Central Post Office more popularly called Lawton, Post Office .

P.O. Boxes

The author arrived past 8:00 am then followed -by Mr. Jonathan Blaza a postcard , stamp , coin collector . Aside from these collections , he also had other hobbies like orchid growing , breeding African love birds , scorpions and spiders. He was soon followed by Ms. Julie Flores , Mr. Jong Esteban Caytiles and Mr. Edge Azurin who was the last to arrived . He seems to be lost in the chaotic streets of Manila.

The small group was also welcomed by Postage and Philatelic Department -manager Mrs. Elenita San Diego.

One of the first agenda of the meet was the short lecture to be conducted by the marketing and administration personnel of the post office, After a brief question and answer portion. the group led by Ms. Annadel Bangalisan who toured the group in the post office operations.

According to the group discussion , some of the unusual packages and letters that were received by the post office were pornographic materials, semen samples, drugs , illegal weapons, firearms and even marijuana . The most recent was the anthrax scare in January 7, 2009 were about a dozen postal employees were said to be expose on the substance . The package contained a powdery substance, which according to our resource person , said follows a trend of 70-plus hoaxes sent to several US post offices and missions. Most of the items were confiscated by the post office.

boxes of business class letters ready to be sorted and delivered

registered mail service by the Philpost from a well-known insurance company

A short lecture by Ms. Olive Valderama was conducted . Mostly on the operations of the post office . The small group also went to the section for sorting of letters and registered business mail

Grendizer TV anime and manga character by Mr. Go Nagai

This life-sized statute was initially shipped to France, Its total mail cost which included air- freights and custom duties reached well over 14,000 pesos ! However the recipient in France did not accept the package and was returned back to the country.

Dead Mail Section

Dead Mail Office / Section A letter or package becomes “dead” when neither its sender nor its recipient can be identified, most often because the delivery address is incorrect or absent and the return address is also incorrect or absent. Morie the sender address the letter to Mr. Philip Dari- this postcard unfortunately never made it to the recipient ( maybe without stamps )

The dead mail office in which undelivered letters and parcels could be found (In the Philippines, it would take at least 3 times for these items to be delivered by postal employees to the recipient before they end-up in this office . )

United States Postal Service adopted the more politically correct name “mail recovery center” to refer to what had been gloomily known as the dead letter office. Besides giving a positive outlook to the concept of a dead letter office by focusing on the mail that is actually recoverable, the other change in the name – a shift from “letter” to “mail” – since the US postal service also included parcels.

bust of batman

These are some of the reasons ‘why” the letters or parcels may not be able to reach their owners.

a.) Insufficient address – Senders use an incorrect recipient address and omit a return address / change of address without proper notification to the postal workers or to the community.

c.) Fictitious name and Fictitious address . Some of the recipient would put Bugs Bunny, Santa Clause, Count Dracula etc….

d.) Refusal to accept by the recipient of the letters / parcel

e.) Items are mistakenly dropped into mail boxes with other mail.

f.) Illegal items like drugs

space rocket made from wood

Before these items are properly auctioned -off to interested buyers. This usually takes several months . Then , the small group went to the small air conditioned eatery at the back of the post office to eat the lunch. Some of the group started arranging their giveaways and postcards items for swapping .

PEDCO eatery is one of the few canteens located within the post office compound

This so called eyeball / meet-up or swap meet was organized by some members of the Post Crossing Philippines and Post Crossing Enthusiast face book members . Unlike regular meetings of other societies and clubs , most of the interactions made was by internet and Facebook , swapping with fellow postcard collectors. Most of the physical activities are intermittent since most of the members are busy and out of town.

postcards from the dead mail section of the post office

Postcard Collecting or Deltiology is considered as one of the popular hobbies in the country . It caters to travelers , students , diplomats, post card and stamp collectors but due to changing times, postcard collecting is slowly confined to a small community and sometimes few vintage pre-war postcards items would also be sold in some collecting group like Filipinas Stamp Collectors’ Club , Bayanihan Collectors’ Club or Philippine Numismatic and Antiquarian Society during their monthly meeting.

giveaway for the attendees

Postcards and stamps compliment each other. Both tell a story , both are used as a form of communication. while postcards serves as an open type of letter and stamps are also used as a proof of delivery rendered by the post office. Some may say that due to the internet age , just like snail mail, post card swapping and collecting is slowly dying . But , this eyeball meet may prove the skeptics wrong . At around past 1:00 pm members of the group started arriving at the postal museum and library .

The 20 plus members of the group were very friendly and some came from as far as Cagayan de Oro City, Baguio, Laguna and United States of America .

Ms. Ruby Ricafrente is the founder of the group

A blogger , post card , key chain and fridge magnet collector. She hails from the city of golden friendship Cagayan de Oro City.

Ms. Jenny Dominguez is from Baguio City and took time to attend the swap meet and eyeball

She usually makes and design her own postcards using cute comic characters like Hello Kitty . She also collects vintage postcards

for those interested in swapping with her . Contact Information: P.O. Box 728 Baguio City 2600 Philippines

It was past 4:00PM when the group ordered a simple snacks which consists of pancit palabok and soft drinks at the nearby eatery.

pancit palabok ordered from PEDCO eatery

There were mini- raffles , postcard swapping and a lot of chit chat with fellow collectors. The group then quickly send their postcards in order to beat the 5:00pm closing time. The original plans of touring Intramuros particularly Fort Santiago , San Agustin Church and Museum was shoved off due to time constraint . I missed -out a few personalities during the eyeball since everyone is quite busy and press for more time.

At past 6:00pm, the small pack decided to have an impromptu food trip in Binondo. The group walk towards Quintin Paredes ( Rosario) street then proceeded to Eng Bee Tin bakery and several more restaurants within the vicinity.

Mr. Von Francisco and Jonathan Blaza taking picture of the dishes

The group then ordered one of the in-house specialty of SuZhou Dimsum . According to Ms. Doris Chua the manager of the restaurant, Su Zhou is located in Jiangsu province is known not only for their food but also beautiful women in China. She also told the group that their Mabini branch is open 24 hours and also accepts orders and catering services.

The group then ordered oyster cake or oyster omelette . The dish consists of an omelette with a filling primarily composed of small oyster ( talaba ) starch (typically potato ) is mixed into the egg batter and spring onions , giving the resulting egg wrap a thicker consistency. vegetable oil is often used to fry the omelette. Depending on regional variation, a savory sauce may then be poured on top of the omelette for added taste.

Contact Information:

Address: 807 Sabino Padilla (Gandara) Street, Sta. Cruz , Manila

Telephone: 309-73-02 / 733-0530

Store operations: 11:00am to past 10:00pm ( variable)

Ambos Mundos Restaurant at night

The group then proceeded to Salazar Bakery for another round of sampling of their products. We walk towards the Sta. Cruz area and went to one of Manila’s famous restaurant landmarks Los Ambos Mundos and Sun Wah Restaurant.

list of menus listed in blackboard- reminiscence of 19th century Manila

Ambos Mundos was first opened in the late 19th century, Some say that it dates back to 1888 while some old-time residents of Manila say the restaurant was opened sometime in 1890’s which was originally located at Estero Cegado

The estero was gradually filled up with soil and rock and was renamed- Calle Cegado . The street is located in between present day Isetann Quiapo and SM City- Quiapo near Plaza Goiti ( now Plaza Lacson) and specializes in Filipino- Spanish cuisine. There were two other restaurants located in Ermita and Carriedo looked after by the three sister of Mang Domeng the great grand father of Mr. Gaudinez. Over time, they had to closed the two because of personal reasons and changes in business interests.

According to one of the staff, they were forcibly moved from Calle Cegado for a planned light railway transit station. Their new restaurant closed when the family immigrated to Winnepeg, Canada in 1993 and reopened in 1997 when Mr. Gaudinez retuned .

signage

The origin of the word which means “both worlds”, is considered one of the oldest still existing restaurants in Manila. It is owned by Mr. Greg Gaudinez, a Spanish mestizo and his wife Mrs. Kathy Leung- Gaudinez who is of Filipino- Chinese descent. According to the staff of the restaurant , the original Ambos did not served Paella moreso and asado rolls but the closest Chinese cuisine that Ambos served then, was pancit (bihon or canton).

group picture

As the fourth generation successor of the family business, Greg decided to move Ambos Mundos from its original location to a new one along Florentino Torres Street where it would be made more visible to the curious passers-by . The location of the new restaurant is near Claro M. Recto Avenue and about 5 minutes walking distance from LRT line 1 ( Doroteo Jose station ) and about 8 to 10 minutes walking distance from LRT line 2 ( Recto- Isetann station).

Sun WahRestaurant was opened in 1955 which specializes in Filipino- Chinese ( Cantonese) dishes . The dining set-up is similar to that of Ambos Mundos, with an open air at the ground floor and a larger air-conditioned second floor. What sets it apart from Ambos Mundos is the menagerie you will encounter on your way to the second floor. You can order same meal that both Ambos and Wah Sun restaurant offers . The air conditioned room is also ideal for many occasions.

pot-belied pigs greeted visitors to the restaurant

The group noticed two pot bellied pigs at the entrance of the restaurant. These pigs serves as an unofficial ambassador of goodwill to all customers and passers-by . They also serves as good luck for the restaurant. Living nearby at Tomas Mapua street in the early 1990’s . I remember that those pigs were not yet part the the restaurant and maybe acquired in the late 1990’s . The author inquisitively asked one of the restaurant staff on what food do these pigs eat ? one of the staff told me that these pigs are well-taken cared for by the owners and they are not given table scraps .

Arawana fish on display

Tourist Attraction: is not only well known for their foods but also for their added exotic animal display.

Tragic Story: According to the restaurant manager , the old restaurant ( made from wood) got burned to the ground after a gas tank leaked from a nearby company sometime in 1993 . Four of their cooks got third degree burns and were hospitalized for a month. The family decided to rebuild the restaurant within just a month after the fire.

going upstairs with vintage flamenco dancers poster

After the tragic incident , The restaurant status was change into a family corporation and the old name was changed from Sun Wah Panciteria to Wah Sun Cantonese Restaurant before returning back to its original name . Later, Mr. Benjamin Leung daughter Kathy married Mr. Greg Gaudinez, a fourth generation owner of Ambos Mundos. Since then, Ambos was transferred from Quiapo and rebuilt in front of Sun Wah. Then in the year 2000, Mr. Benjamin Leung was shot dead by a thief in front of the restaurant. According to some eyewitness account , the thief might be surveying the locality . Things dramatically changed for the restaurant.

pork asado with sweet sauce

Despite the tragedy, life went on inside the restaurant and the five siblings teamed up to run the place that has become their father’s legacy. What is notable is both of the restaurant had survived despite tragedies like the last world war , fire and the death of its owner/founder.

pork asado with pickle relish- one of the restaurant specialties

fried rice with shrimps and pork

The group also ordered their fried rice served in a medium sized bowl. The serving looks deceiving small but all 6 of us were able to eat . For budget travelers, it is wise to pool in money before ordering the food . The food of both restaurant (taste) , ambiance , history and experience is a must for all . After more than 12 hours of tour, food trip, historical trivia, eyeball , raffles and games, the small group parted ways at around past 9:00pm.

Like this:

Starting a collection is something one must have passion , dedication or something of sentimental value . One of the most common items collected are coins , paper bills, stamps and postcards. They are easily transported via land, baggage and air.

There is a popular television show Kapuso Mo Jessica Soho last June 4 episode, who featured a coin collector ( Barya Milyones segment ) from Nueva Ecija province, The featured collector collect loose change from her brother who was a seaman .

They were able to collect a lot of coins with the special feature about the Sacagawea dollar. There was a high expectation on the part of the coin collector that it was worth millions of pesos, until the president of Philippine Numismatic and Antiquarian Society (PNAS) was invited to appraise the coins ( face value Php 49. 36 as of June 5 exchange rate) . Much to the dismay of the coin collector.

Japanese coins from different era- personal collection of the author

Here are the 5 Important Ways to Start a Coin Collection

1.) Motivation – The motivations for collecting are varied. Possibly the most common type of collector is the hobbyist, who amasses a collection purely for fun with no real expectation of profit. This is especially true of casual collectors and children who collect items on the basis of chance and personal interest.

2. ) Passion -Have a passion and try to collect them from KKK – Kaibigan , Kakilala at Kamag-anaks – These connections are necessary to start a collection. Starting a collection may not be an expensive hobby at first, as relatives and friends would always give handy and loose change . Eventually sorting them and making a theme , out of your collection – American regime, Commonwealth, Kings, Queens, Popes etc…

proof set coins minted by Franklin Mint , USA circa late 1970’s sold before the Central Bank of the Philippines ( with certificate of authenticity)

3.) Research– Try to do some research on the coins or items, There are some second hand coin catalogs for sale at several flea market and second hand bookstore . They are categorized by country or by time period. Joining a reputable collecting club is another option . There are a lot of people that have the same passion and hobby .

Some are helpful and will lend a helping hand , BUT some will just tell stories ala Indiana Jones and will sell over priced items. Joining FB groups , forum sites and peer group will also help.

There are also good places in the Philippines to visit , Money Museum within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas compound at Harrison Plaza in Manila had an interesting collection of coins , banknotes and pre-hispanic items. Appointment is a MUST for those who wanted to visit the museum.

Remember that in the field of numismatic also includes medals, tokens and private issuance of companies. There are also counterfeits of coins, tokens and paper money since time immemorial . Sometimes, they are more expensive than the real counterparts.

There are a lot of coins made in China , India and other parts of the world intended for unsuspecting tourist. My uncle bought some silver coins allegedly from a dealer in Bangkok in one of his foreign trips. The silver coins are supposedly was minted in the late 19th century and early 20th century. Unsuspectingly bought them without properly inspecting the items. It was kept in a bank vault for several decades until his death.

Initially, it was intended to be sold to cover his funeral expenses but upon close inspection, all of the silver coins are fake and with very little silver content. Apparently, they are made using the old techniques of molds.

Even a seasoned coin collector would have a hard time with these items, there were thousands or even millions made to lure unsuspecting tourists.

Personally , I do not recommend searching some buying sites, since they are sometimes overpriced and does not reflect the real market value.

Bagong Lipunan bills – mint condition

4.) 4 C’s of Coin Collecting – After amassing the desired quantity, One can start sorting the coin collecting.

Common Themes- It can be based on per country, year collection,mint, period , era and theme.

Condition – Seasoned collectors will always look for the best condition of coins, so avoid holding coin with bare hands and try to buy coin holder , They are available in ordinary cheap paper holder to more expensive ones. They can be bought at a specialty stores in US, UK or HK .

One must also know if the coin are minted as to commemorative or special issuance, One must note that some issues are highly collectible since they commemorate an event and limited in quantity . Government issues like Central Banks are highly sought after by collectors, as to compared to private institutions.

Modern commemorative proof set coin issuance are normally sealed in nice containers with certificate of authenticity issued by the issuing government entity. Do not attempt to remove the coins or items on the containers as they are sealed and will quickly loose its value.

Coins with metallic or intrinsic values like gold, silver, platinum and bronze are collectible and desired by collectors.

Capacity – Remember that at one time , one will buy collectible items. One must always think of the person’s capacity and market value. Do not try to over buy or hoard items.

Cleaning Coins – Generally , It is not acceptable to clean old coins especially more than 50 years-old and above. Just keep it as is and do not attempt to use abrasive coin cleaners. ( Done that with a couple of silver coins before with my ROTC metal polish before !) ordinary baking soda with mild detergent power will do wonders.

It is also not always the case that an old coin is worth more than the modern coin. There are billions or millions of coins minted and thus sometimes they are not that expensive. ( author was able to bought a couple of Roman era coins worth about a hundred pesos )

5.) Collect for the Fun and Knowledge – Met a lot of collectors which started with full of zest with their collection. Buying a lot of items at flea market , club auction and online sites. Buying them by bulk as if there was no tomorrow.

One collector would even post a weekly update on his facebook page , buying package full at several sites and falsely telling stories that they were heirloom family collection .

I was told that the collector somehow lost his interest in collecting is now selling the items he hoarded.

I used to be a member of the Bank Note Society of the Philippines (BNSP ) for a couple of years during the incumbency of President Cecilio Hodreal . His son is now active in collecting banknotes, coins and stamps.

Note : The author does not engage into buying and selling of these items. Only had limited number of coins and paper bill collection.

It was supposed to be a three-day event with a third day scheduled until September 22 ,2013 Sunday but was cancelled due to unavoidable circumstances to give way to an in-house mall event ( Chinese Moon Cake festival ) by the Chinese Embassy . The organizers have shared their deepest apologies for the very short notice of cancellation.

Coca-cola hummer truck ( Off Road Carrier) copyright 2003, manufactured in China and distributed the United States and Latin American markets.

Mrs. Myrna and Ms. Kaycee

Mrs. Myra and Ms. Kaycee are re-sellers or dealers of die-cast toys and other collectible items . They have a small consigned outlets at Greenhills . The mother daughter tandem also participate in some flea market bazaars or tianggues . They source most of their items from the United States . Their selling instinct never surprise anyone “ Baka may magustuhan po kayo sa mga items namin ” Maybe you like some items from our stall. They specialize on niche market like cartoon characters , coca-cola cars , walt disney , figurines

Contact : Ms. Kaycee (0916-538-8697)SMART

Ms. Myrna (0915-544-5088) GLOBE

Email: isajonas@yahoo.com

trading cards and sticker from Japan

living dead dolls

These are living dead dolls on sale at Php 1,800 each . The dolls are popular in the United States, Europe and some parts of Asia like Japan and Korea.

Ms. Desi and Morena Teh

Mother Morena and Daughter Desi . They are active collectors of different stuffs . The husband , Mr. Antonio Teh is a member of various collecting clubs like PNAS, BNSP, Bayanihan , FSCC. They also would participates in collecting bazaars and club bourses.

most of the coins are in mint condition , almost all the coins are silver and are highly collectible . Philippine Numismatic and Antiquarian Society is the foremost leader and authority when it comes to coin collection. The club had hundreds of member nationwide and international affiliation .

Magnets

auction

Among the highly anticipated event is the live auction of toys and other collectible items. Some of the toys starting bid at Php 1.00 and some good items were also sold . Most of the bidders are students with loose pocket change .

Mr. Raul Jr. II Q. Rivera

He won this original Uron / Oolong the Terrible stuff toy – Uron/ Oolong is a character in Dragon Ball in the on the spot auction . The stuff toy reached Php 265.00 – relatively CHEAP for an original stuff.

Ms. Josele May D. Ong

She started her own business 3 years ago making customized handmade polymer clay jewelries, crochet accessories, tatted couture . She also maintained a facebook page for on-line selling .

Contact : 0906-544-55-44

cute accessories made from polymer clay

She shared the booth with 3 other small time traders Gyaru/ Harajuku , Paper Pitaka and Gyaru Shoppe.

crowd

Before i left the convention, i managed to buy a couple of Matchbox die-cast toys !!!! Yipee !!! LOOT of the Day.